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OHhiking 
Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 03 2013, 7:39 pm |
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I'm planning on trying to hike up Guadalupe peak in TX and then drive to NM and hike up Wheeler peak a couple of days later. In planning on going in May. Any suggestions? Places to stay, weather conditions etc. would be appreciated.
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| Post Number: 2
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SW Mtn backpacker
Born to hike, forced to work ...
Group: Members
Posts: 6720
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Mar. 03 2013, 8:55 pm |
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There's car camping at both places, the Guads being designated since it's a National Park, but in Taos you can pull off the side of road if going up to the Ski area parking ...or dirtbag it in the ski area parking lot, which doubles as trailhead, as the lifts will be closed. Taos Ski area is far enough away from Taos that there shouldn't be a problem. I usually stop a beer in Santa Fe or Durango, then grab a quick wink after midnight before hitting the trail at dawn, .. no problem (coffee in thermos/pastry on trail). Haven't had any issues as the TH's are remote (not trying to save money, just getting acclimated and off my rear instead of loitering for breakfast in those nice towns).
Haven't done Wheeler in about 10 years though, but I doubt they are patrolling the TH after ski season closes. The Guads will probably be hot and dry. Might still have some lingering snow at Taos.
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Usually Southwest and then some.
In wildness is the preservation of the world. - Henry Thoreau
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| Post Number: 3
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toejam
the high road is hard to find
Group: Members
Posts: 1462
Joined: Mar. 2002
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Posted on: Mar. 09 2013, 12:29 am |
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There is usually nice weather in May, although the high mountains still have snow.
Guadalupe & Wheeler are a long way apart and you'll miss a ton of cool stuff while rushing down the highway from one to the other. Sierra Blanca, near Ruidoso, is a lot closer to Guadalupe and is a big, worthy mountain that won't have as much snow. Then maybe you'd have time to spend a couple nights in the White Mountain Wilderness.
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| Post Number: 4
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OHhiking
Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 11 2013, 8:40 pm |
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Thanks for the information. I'm trying to do some state highpoints and that's why Wheeler and Guadalupe. So I'll probably need my microspikes? Are there usually quite a few hikers on these mountains?
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| Post Number: 5
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ChasWill
Group: Members
Posts: 820
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 12 2013, 9:35 am |
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I have hike in the Pecos and other NM ranges on long Memorial Day weekends and my experience has been lots of postholing. You may find micro spikes helpful on the peak but I often wished I had snowshoes.
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Charlie
OuachitaMaps.com
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| Post Number: 6
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OHhiking
Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 13 2013, 9:38 pm |
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I see the average temp for Wheeler is 40 for high and 10 for low. How deep is the snow and how many hikers are usually around. I'd like to try this hike solo.
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| Post Number: 7
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Rics
Group: Members
Posts: 172
Joined: Mar. 2006
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Posted on: Mar. 13 2013, 10:34 pm |
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If it was me I'd do Guadalupe then head for the Gila Wilderness and backpack up the Gila River beginning at Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat. Monument north of Silver City. Great time of the year. Great wilderness experience.
Rics, Trekkerman.
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Rics
www.trekkerman.com
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| Post Number: 8
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| Post Number: 9
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skinewmexico
Group: Members
Posts: 1878
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Mar. 18 2013, 11:37 pm |
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The last time I tried to go up Wheeler on Memorial Day (from the Taos side), we lost the trail in about 5' of snow @ 11,000'. Not microspike terrain. Personally, I like going up from the Red River side (prefer Red River over Taos in general) and I think there is more camping.
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Con men understand that their job is not to use facts to convince skeptics but to use words to help the gullible to believe what they want to believe. - Thomas Sowell
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